What is the ideal amount of time to give an effective presentation? If you’ve ever watched a Ted video, you’ll have seen that some of the presentations are very short. In fact, some of them are only about three minutes or less. However, those presentations are highly effective and often very memorable. I’ve never given a presentation at Ted, but I have given a short presentation in the past. So this week, you’re going to see a sample presentation of me giving a real presentation that is only two minutes and 37 seconds long. But to make this more helpful for you, I’m also going to include an analysis of what I said and the key expressions that I used.

Here’s the analysis broken down into the beginning, the middle, and the end

(Dramatic voiceover) “In the beginningâ€¦”

I start this presentation with a very direct overview of what the audience can expect. Nothing fancy, just to the point and fast.

“Today we’re going to be talking about how to analyze your presentation script.”

The next thing I tell the audience is the first purpose of my talk. Notice that I am telling them that I will help them to do something. This is something that you must always consider… How your information is going to do something for the audience. And here’s what I said:

“Now the purpose of this is to help you find the absolute core, the core message of your presentation.”

And in the middleâ€¦

Starting at the 22 second mark, I tell them exactly what we are going to be doing to achieve the first purpose.

“So what we’re going to doâ€¦ I’m going to teach you guys to analyze your presentation so that you can find the keywords or key phrases in your presentation.”

After that, I move right into the second purpose.

“And what we are going to do today, too is we’re going to help you to figure out, “Okay, how do I get into the mind of my audience and understand the audience.”

From there, I go into explaining they need to do three things to achieve the two purposes. I just simply sayâ€¦

“The very first thing you’re going to needâ€¦”

“The second thing you needâ€¦”

“And the third thing you’re going to needâ€¦”

But it’s not the endâ€¦

This presentation was about something I wanted people to do. I gave them an overview of what they had to do. To end my presentation, I tell them what they need to be careful of. I say to themâ€¦

“The important thing is that during this exercise you have to be very, very strict; otherwise, this entire thing does not work.”

Here’s how it all endsâ€¦

Finally, I tell them what the big picture is, what the ultimate achievement for them will be.

“So what this is gonna do is help you to start thinking like the audience memberâ€¦”

And last but not least, I give them the first thing they must do. In other words, I give them a call-to-action.

“So that’s basically it. We’re going to take the next few steps that I’ve outlined in the handouts there. Okay? And we are going to get going with that.”

In summary

To do something like this, you must first be well prepared, organized, and know your stuff. But you also have to keep in mind the basic structure of a presentation: Beginning, middle, and end. In the sample presentation, the structure I’ve followed isâ€¦

The beginning to introduce

The middle to explain the details

The end to give a call-to-action

Question timeâ€¦

What do you think makes people the most nervous when giving a presentation?

Let me know what you think by writing your answer in the comments section below.

As always, let me know if you have any questions about presentations or this particular topic by leaving a comment below or using the contact page.

Sir, I’m going to have a presentation about improving the HR training and development but I don’t know how to start and end my presentation. Can you help me? Thank you so much!

Dulanjalee
on June 13, 2014 at 1:39 pm

Hi Sir,
Can you give me some tips on on to start a presentation on, EU enlargement and practices please?

Eds
on June 22, 2014 at 9:38 pm

Hi Sir,
Can i ask some advice from you regarding my presentation tomorrow? I will discuss more on Sap system to sales. Since i am one of the core members i was given a task to do the presentation to sales on how to check the inventory, buying and selling price, etc. Your response is greatly appreciated.
Edna

How to do it? You won’t introduce the characters at the beginning like a presentation. One idea is to provide a playbill, a document that lists the characters and who will play them. It also provides a synopsis of the play.

Please see the posts about giving an introduction. Lots of ideas there.

rajni
on July 7, 2014 at 12:28 pm

i have a ten mins presentation an it is about having confidence in yourself i was thinking if you could write the presentation for me please

King
on July 28, 2014 at 9:11 am

Please post some presentation scripts or sentence while taking presentation.
eg: Let me introduce myself first , I think all of you know about this subject, Please feel free to ask me if you have any doubts etc…..

sumon
on July 31, 2014 at 1:53 am

Thank you for your advice,sir.i failed to respond to ur email.i m so sorry,sir.On that day,i tried my best.firstly,i introduced my group members.Secondly,we performed as if we were performers in a plot.Finally,we gave our opinion on this plot with ur question ‘”what do u think…”.it’s very useful and i drew the attention of the audience.I was very grateful to u.i watched ur movies how to attract the audience but i missed ur email.it would be a good idea if i put a synopsis as u suggested.

Mohamed waheed
on August 3, 2014 at 9:47 pm

Sir i am going to present about hiv and its myths. Pls help me to make this 5 minute presentation

angel sucayan
on September 14, 2014 at 7:17 pm

Hi sir,
Can I ask some sample of presentation speech because we a little program in speech communication in Tuesday. Thank you

Could you please advise how to start and end a presentation? Talk about the of II Kings…I did all my research getting as much information as I could but the issue is, I don’t know where to start and maybe able to end it.

Fakafetai lasi (Appreciated)

yusof
on October 14, 2014 at 1:20 pm

sir, can you give me an example for MUET presentation tomorrow.

Swetha
on October 19, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Hi,sir
myself swetha i have poster presentation on tomorrow i dnt knw how to make presentation properly so can u help me sir nd give me one interesting topic sir that how to start nd end tel me some important tips for it..

jashan
on November 24, 2014 at 2:00 am

sir plz help me out….i want to present my project on topic-impact of human activities on weather asnd climate….under dat husk burning is d main activity i have choosen…..

Keerthi vasan
on January 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm

hi sir. . Im not great in english. . I have to prepare for my college culturals. . Please help me out for presentation speech welcome and thanking. Please help me sir

Nazha
on February 16, 2015 at 11:40 pm

i think this sample is quite easy to memorize and will help me for next presentation.. thank you so much..:)

Sir,I’m going to present about a certain group want to grab land that called affirmative reposition my topic is Affirmative reposition has brought confusion in Namibia.help me on how to start my presentation,introduction.

arifa
on May 4, 2015 at 3:44 am

Respected sir ,
we are going to present my presentation how i start to make my presentation effective

I am having a presentation next week monday and my topic was rhino poachingis not a solution. Our teacher rejected it but i dn’t know what to go present. Can you please help me.

I will be grateful for your help
Thank you
maria

Surykant Verma
on July 22, 2015 at 7:25 pm

sir. I’m going to American because I want to learn English.
tommoro sir say you give presentation.
sir but I don’t know how to give presentation and what will I speech.

raju
on August 5, 2015 at 10:36 pm

very bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:p

Khusbu Shrestha
on August 10, 2015 at 10:04 pm

Hello sir,
I am Khusbu from Nepal. I have just started my college this year and there will be some presentation programmes (competition) after some days or weeks. I really don’t have any creative idea to make it the best. I want to grab the attention of audiences from the first when I introduce me and my group members and address the people present there. So can you help me on this. Please reply.
Khusbu Shrestha.

There are several other presentations in other playlists on my YouTube Channel. Everything you need can be found in the videos.

Good luck!

ali
on December 12, 2015 at 7:43 pm

HELLO SIR.I AM GOING TO GIVE A PRESENTATION ON ‘ YOUTH ‘ BEFORE MY TEACHER AND CLASS. I HAVE DECIDED TO START IT WITH A QUOTE.CAN YOU TELL ME IS IT ALL RIGHT OR I SHOULD START OTHERWISE? IF OTHERWISE THEN HOW? I AM NOT GOOD AT ENGLISH AND THAT WILL BE MY FIRST EXPERIENCE

Sorry for the late reply. Hope your presentation went well. I have a video about starting a presentation with a quote, so yes, it’s a great idea!

Lana
on January 29, 2016 at 12:46 am

Hi you’re hot

Nurazlina
on February 3, 2016 at 2:38 am

Sir,
I am a student from secondary school and I need to do presentation in order to get my CA1 marks. As you can see its important for me but I’m not sure on how to have a good class presentation. I hope that you might be able to help me with my problem? Thank you. (:

Muhammad Owais Khan
on February 18, 2016 at 1:23 am

Hi Carl,
Hope you are doing good. Need your assistance in my presentation preparation which is on “Smart Cities” topic. I made some research on it and prepared a report. Now I have to give presentation on it. It will held in university so the audience would be the students. The duration of it is 12mins. This topic is somehow related to IT. Kindly help me out in making the flow of presentation and how to deliver it. You few words would be really helpful. Please reply!

Muhammad Owais Khan.

mounika somu
on February 18, 2016 at 8:57 am

hi sir
am going to give a presentation on green computing in my neighbouring college for a competition. i request you to give me suggestions to present it uniquely and how to start and end
thank you in advance

Thanks for getting in touch. I’d be happy to give you suggestions on how to give your presentation. Please select one of the consultation options from this page and we can get to work at your earliest convenience: http://presentationexpressions.com/consulting

Thanks and good luck.

Carl

YunYin
on April 11, 2016 at 6:34 pm

Hi Carl Kwan,

I have go thru the 188 comments above. I feel happy when I know that sir can I learn more from there. I wish to ask for your help and suggestion. This coming Friday I need to do the presentation with pressing topic. I’m the first time to do presentation. I feel stress and nervous and can’t speak English very well. I also don’t have any idea what topic to present. This presentation take 15 minutes to talk. Sir! Could you assist me to prepare this presentation. What is the “Pressing Topic” involved?

Hopefully, your presentation went well. Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for your question.

I have several videos about choosing presentation topics and several more about giving the presentation. I recommend watching those next time. I also recommend preparing a lot earlier. You’ll feel less stressed and nervous.